Royal Caribbean to pull out of the Caribbean next summer
Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
The Caribbean cruise tourism industry has been dealt a major blow, after one cruise liner announced that it is pulling out of the region next summer.
Royal Caribbean International says that it will reposition its ship from the Caribbean to Europe, in 2012.
The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) says it understands that repositioning is a normal course of business within the cruise sector, particularly during the summer months.
But the CTO is worried about how much this will impact on the already struggling summer cruise business in the region.
The organisation says it is already taking measures to ensure that the Caribbean remains a highly desirable cruising destination.
The CTO said it was deeply worried by news from Royal Caribbean International that it is repositioning one of its ships from the region to Europe in summer next year.
The CTO says it understands that seasonal adjustments in cruise traffic to the Caribbean are not uncommon but the situation now merits closer attention and one of the key areas of focus is the southern Caribbean where winter cruising continues to be strong but summer traffic has become a victim of high fuel costs and geography.
Monday’s announcement by Royal Caribbean International comes as the CTO forecasts positive growth for the tourism sector for the rest of 2011.
Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
The Caribbean cruise tourism industry has been dealt a major blow, after one cruise liner announced that it is pulling out of the region next summer.
Royal Caribbean International says that it will reposition its ship from the Caribbean to Europe, in 2012.
The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) says it understands that repositioning is a normal course of business within the cruise sector, particularly during the summer months.
But the CTO is worried about how much this will impact on the already struggling summer cruise business in the region.
The organisation says it is already taking measures to ensure that the Caribbean remains a highly desirable cruising destination.
The CTO said it was deeply worried by news from Royal Caribbean International that it is repositioning one of its ships from the region to Europe in summer next year.
The CTO says it understands that seasonal adjustments in cruise traffic to the Caribbean are not uncommon but the situation now merits closer attention and one of the key areas of focus is the southern Caribbean where winter cruising continues to be strong but summer traffic has become a victim of high fuel costs and geography.
Monday’s announcement by Royal Caribbean International comes as the CTO forecasts positive growth for the tourism sector for the rest of 2011.
Comment